Ch. 10 - Finish and Furniture

Delia Tacheny
Reading: The Codes Guidebook for Interiors
INT 324 - Building Codes

Building codes are always aiming to protect occupants, and fires are one of the biggest causes for concern. That being said, it's not always the building structure that only needs to be fire-rated... but also the items inside...

As interior designers, this chapter is especially applicable as we are almost always dealing with finishes and furniture - both of which can contribute to the spread of a fire. The 1942 fire at Boston's Coconut Grove nightclub led to the Boston Fire Code, dealing with interiors and interior finishes. Since then, the standards and codes regarding interior finishes and furniture have only continued to expand. Rather than listing specific requirements for finishes, furnishings, and furniture, the codes reference several standards primarily established by NFPA, UL, and ASTM. This chapter is very comprehensive, so I will do my best to touch on the key standards and tests to take note of. 

The codes apply to seven categories of materials/products:

1. Ceiling finishes 
2. Wall finishes
3. Floor finishes 
4. Window treatments
5. Decorative materials and trim
6. Furnishing finishes
7. Furniture

Different tests are used on these materials based on their application/ use, not necessarily their finish type. Additionally, where in the building the material is being used and/or the type of building may also affect the test and standards that must be met. It is important to understand the intent of each type of test and recognize the meaning of the results - some tests are pass/ fail, others determine and assign a specific class or ranked rating. 

The most common test names, their purpose, and general format are summarized below:

• 
  Steiner Tunnel Test - Principal test used to determine the flame spread and smoke development ratings in the classification of interior finishes applied to walls, ceilings, and other structural elements, such as columns. Finishes are tested in a tunnel-like apparatus that is 25 feet long. 
  
  
  
• Radiant Panel Test - Used to rate interior floor finishes such as carpet, resilient flooring, and hardwood floor assemblies + wall base, testing its tendency to spread a fire -- this is particularly important for exits and exit corridors. The test results in a CRF (critical radiant flux) measured in watts of radiant heat energy per square centimeter. 
  
• Pill Test - Pertains specifically to carpets and rugs, using a Methenamine tablet (pill) to ignite the sample during the test, representing a small ignition source such as a cigarette or glowing ember. Measures the distance the fire spreads from the original ignition point. 
• 
  Vertical Flame Test - used for vertical treatments such as curtains, draperies, window shades, large wall hangings, and plastic films used for decorative purposes. The intent of the test is to determine if the material will continue to burn after the flame has been removed. 
• 
  Room Corner Test - Initially used to test textile and non-textile wall and ceiling finishes, it is now also a required test for the use of expanded vinyl on walls and ceilings, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) as an interior finish, and site-fabricated stretch systems when used as a wall or ceiling finish. The test stimulates a complete room configuration and determines how the finish will add to the fire growth. 
• Smolder Resistance Test - AKA the Cigarette Ignition Test uses an actual smoldering cigarette as the ignition source to see how a product will smolder before either flaming or extinguishing. 
• 
  Toxicity Test LC - 50 - Includes a wide range of materials and products and tests the toxicity a material emits when it is burned. The test consists of subjecting a small material sample to an ignition source and then exposing it to radiant heat lamps. A higher test score indicates a less toxic product. 
• 
  Upholstered Seating Test - These test pertain specifically to upholstered seating and mattress assemblies. A full-scale test uses a mock-up of the entire piece of furniture, where as the small-scale test uses smaller mock-ups that consist of multiple components of that piece. CAL 133 (from the California Technical Bulletin) is the most well-known full-scale test standard. CAL 117 is less stringent but more common. 

Based on their test, finishes are classified into different categories. The code books provide tables that show the different classification requirements for different finishes depending on the occupancy. 

Each type of finish has various industry standards, requirements, etc. Additional factors to consider are guidelines regarding slip resistance and accessibility. There are also a handful of exceptions for some specific products. All this in more can be found in the code books and this chapter for whatever product is relevant in a project. Even decorative products and signage have requirements as well. 

Source(s):

Kennon, Katherine E., and Sharon Koomen Harmon. “Ch.10: Finish and Furniture.” The Codes Guidebook for Interiors, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 2022.